What Your Cholesterol Numbers Are Actually Telling You
“Your cholesterol is high” is one of the most common things people hear at a checkup, and one of the least explained. A single number rarely tells the full story.
A Lipid Panel measures four things: total cholesterol, LDL (“bad” cholesterol, which can build up in your arteries), HDL (“good” cholesterol, which actually helps clear it), and triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood tied closely to diet and weight). Two people with the same total cholesterol can have very different LDL-to-HDL ratios — and very different levels of concern.
Why people order this test
- An annual check, especially with a family history of heart disease
- Tracking the effect of a new diet, exercise routine, or medication
- A doctor’s recommendation after a previous abnormal result
What to expect
Fast for 9 to 12 hours before your draw — water is fine. If your triglycerides run high, the lab may measure LDL directly instead of calculating it, which is more accurate anyway.
Ready to order? The Lipid Panel (Cholesterol) is $34 at SelectATest, with results in your own secure online portal.
This post is for general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Tests are ordered by an independent licensed physician, and results are not a diagnosis. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.